My schedule has been a bit hectic for the past few weeks. OK, I’ll be honest — life has been way too hectic!

I have to admit to having to work extra hard to maintain my “sweet disposition.” It seems like I’m always dashing off to handle this and trying to take care of that. No time for slowing down — too much work to be done. Go as fast as you can as long as you can. Then crash and sleep as little as you can and get up and do it all again the next day.

I can see many of you shaking your heads in understanding. It’s like being caught up in a whirlwind with nothing to grab hold of to get out of it. But — God is so gracious and he has a way of suddenly pulling us out of the spin and setting our feet back on the ground and redirecting us to the things that really matter.

He did that for me on Friday, May 17, at 9:24 a.m.

I was working away at my desk having already promised two people I would be right with them when I received a text message from my son, Larry: “You now have a granddaughter.”

My daughter-in-law had just given birth to their fourth child and first girl, Katie Lynn Summerlin. Katie wasn’t due for another week and all the other births have happened after their due dates — so I wasn’t expecting that message any time soon! As soon as I read that message my feet touched ground and, quite frankly, I didn’t care one iota what else had to be done. His call came just a few minutes after the text, and by the time I got off the phone with him there were four people standing in a line to talk to me and one or two had already walked away!

I tried to reign in my excitement and get on with the business of the day. Then, in midsentence, I received another text — this one with a picture of Katie only moments after she entered the world. Those lucky four people who had been waiting patiently for me to answer their questions were delayed again while I passed around my phone showing everyone near us my beautiful granddaughter.

Later that same day I was leaving the museum headed to an appointment that I was already going to be late for when I caught sight of four tiny baby Canada Geese wobbling behind their mother. I stopped, put the car in park and watched them for a few minutes. Those clumsy little balls of fur made me laugh out loud and I wondered if their grandma knew about their birth. I was just a tiny bit late — but my disposition was so much sweeter.

As I lay my head down, early that evening (without setting my alarm clock), I fell asleep not thinking about deadlines and all the things that didn’t get done — but thanking God for life, new and old. The pictures of my oldest child holding his youngest child with so much love in his eyes replaced the fears of things left undone. I slept peacefully until the sweet song of birds and the glow of sunlight through my blinds beckoned me to another day.

So what’s for dinner tonight: work or family? When you lay your head down on the pillow will visions of laughter and love lull you to sleep or will the gremlins of deadlines pounce up and down on your bed keeping you awake? If you are fortunate enough to sit down at the table with a family, then why would you choose anything else? So what if it is a ham sandwich or frozen lasagna? Just enjoy it together.

OK. I know some of you can’t have a ham sandwich for dinner (my husband included) so here’s a little something quick and easy that will make everyone happy — including the cook!

Teri Bell is co-owner of Miss Sophie’s Marketplace at the Mighty Eighth in Pooler. Go to sophiesmarketplace.com.

CHICKEN & PESTO BOWTIES

3 cups rotisserie chicken, chopped

3 cups uncooked bowtie pasta, cooked according to package

1 cup milk

¼ cup pesto (purchased or homemade)

1 (16-ounce) jar Alfredo sauce

1 (8-ounce) jar sundried tomatoes in oil, well drained and chopped

TOPPING

¼ cup Panko

2 tablespoons butter, melted

¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour into a greased 3 quart casserole dish. Cover and bake for 20-25 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Spread on top of casserole and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.